Billion-pound sustainability drive ‘is not a luxury’ says Sainsburys
Sainsbury’s has launched a £1bn sustainability plan setting out 20 targets to be met by 2020. Launched on the same day as its Brand Match voucher scheme is rolled out across the UK, the pledges include: doubling the amount of British food sold; creating 50,000 job opportunities; and increasing sales of fairly-traded products to £1bn.
Brands must do more to tackle obesity
The Government has called on the food and drink industry to help reduce calorie intake, a move that comes as it unveils a revamped marketing strategy for its anti-obesity initiative Change4Life that includes a “radical step-change” in the amount of activity funded by brands. Alcohol-related activity that uses the Change4Life brand will also be “stepped up”. New campaigns that focus on the health harm of alcohol will be introduced.
Using research in moderation has paid off for Green and Blacks
A combination of applied research and killer insights has helped shape the success of the Green and Blacks brand. Husband and wife founders Craig Sams and Josephine Fairley built the brand based on a perceived lack of fine chocolate in the UK, married with a desire to be an ethical pioneer. The brand’s journey has been a mix of formulaic data, focus groups and customer segmentation as well as personal hunches and sheer chance - a formidable combination.
Virgin Media gets patriotic with logo
Virgin Media is hoping a new logo that incorporates the Union Flag will help it tap in to the patriotic fervour that next year’s Olympic Games and Diamond Jubilee will create. The Union Jack will sit next to Virgin’s logo in the revamped visual identity, a move, the company claims, which “reflects the company’s British heritage”. The logo will feature in advertising for the first time this coming weekend (15/16 October) in a campaign for the company’s TiVo service.
Warburtons takes first steps outside UK with Euro-friendly loves
Warburtons has expanded outside the UK for the first time by launching into Tesco stores in four central European countries. The baker has worked with Tesco’s group food sourcing team – which sources products that could work across the retailer’s global business – to tailor seven Warburtons-branded lines for the European market. They include a white Toastie loaf, fruit bread, brown bread, crumpets and English muffins.
Which 100 brands are providing the best customer experience?
Amazon’s done it again. In a survey of more than 7,000 shoppers, the online giant has topped the list of the best brands for overall customer experience. It was the only one to score more than eight out of 10 from consumers’ overall rating of factors such as price, customer service, product, website and/or store environment. The other retailers enjoying a top 10 place in shopper insight firm Nunwood’s list are John Lewis, Marks & Spencer and M&S Simple Food.
Brand expertise key for new Mothercare chief
Maternity specialist Mothercare is likely to seek a new chief executive from beyond the boundaries of traditional retail to put it back on track in the UK and continue global growth. Following news this week of the sudden departure of chief executive Ben Gordon, who will leave in mid-November, sources familiar with the thinking of Mothercare’s board, led by chairman Alan Parker, said that candidates with branded consumer goods expertise are likely to lead the pack. Mike Logue, who joined Mothercare from Asda, earlier this year to run its embattled UK business, is set to play a key role in the turnaround but is unlikely to succeed Gordon as chief executive
